Curio Cabinet

One man’s unexploded ordnance is another critter’s treasure. Using an undersea submersible, researchers at the Senckenberg Research Institute in Germany have found that marine life is thriving on what used to be the deadliest weapons in the sea. World War II shaped many aspects of our curent political age, but more tangible and literal remnants of the war can be found at the bottom of the ocean in the form of discarded weapons and unused explosives. It’s estimated that there are currently 1.6 million tons of WWII-era weapons lying in German waters alone. These dumped weapons pose a number of threats. On land, explosives might detonate when disturbed after decades of slumber. That’s less likely underwater, but dangerous chemicals can still leak out as their containers deteriorate, causing harm to people and the environment. It would seem, then, that the deadly refuse of the past would prevent modern day sea life from thriving. Oddly, though, scientists exploring the seabed of the Bay of Lübeck have found that a cache of failed V-1 flying bombs have become an unlikely home for a variety of underwater fauna. V-1 flying bombs were rockets developed by Nazi Germany during WWII with the intention of striking at long-distance targets. Due to their unreliable nature, though, many of them simply ended up crashing into the water before making it anywhere near their targets. Now, starfish, anemone, crabs, marine worms, and other creatures are living on the “metal carcasses” of the rockets, seemingly unperturbed by the undetonated explosives inside. Based on observations made with a submersible, it appears that the twisted metal shell of the rockets has filled with sediment, creating a rich and varied environment for marine fauna to thrive on. Settling down on a fallen bomb? It gives new meaning to the phrase “volatile housing market!”

Even a short tenure can have a lasting impact. Pope John Paul I, also known as “the Smiling Pope,” passed away around this time of the year in 1978, just 33 days after becoming the pope. This brief pontificate (the term referring to the tenure of a pope as well as the position itself) is one of the shortest in history. Born on October 17, 1912, in Forno di Canale, Italy, with the birth name Albino Luciani, Pope John Paul I was ordained a priest in 1935. He was elected pope on August 26, 1978, and he was unique in a number of ways.
 
Pope John Paul was one of the few pontiffs to have a pastoral reputation, despite never serving as a pastor, and was known for being accessible as a result. Even his nickname comes from the ever present smile on his face, which endeared him to the public. He was also the first pope to be born in the 20th century, the last to die in the 20th century, and—as of now—the last Italian pope to be elected. He was the first pope to have two names; “John” and “Paul” refer to Popes John XXIII and Paul VI.
 
As short as his pontificate was, it’s not the shortest ever. That “honor” goes to Pope Leo XI, who passed away in 1605 just 27 days after becoming the pontiff. Pope John Paul I passed away in his sleep, presumably of a heart attack, though the exact cause was never officially established. Due to the sudden and unexpected nature of his death, there were unsubstantiated rumors at the time that he had been assassinated. Decades after his passing, he was beatified and became Blessed John Paul I, meaning that he is at the second stage on the way to becoming a saint. The beatification came after an 11-year-old girl in Argentina with Febrile Infection-Related Epilepsy Syndrome reportedly recovered after praying to the pope. Even in death, his reputation keeps improving!

[Image description: An illustration of the obelisk in front of the Vatican.] Credit & copyright: The Vatican Obelisk, from "Speculum Romanae Magnificentiae" Publisher: Antonio Lafreri (French, Orgelet, Franche-Comte ca. 1512–1577 Rome). The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Harris Brisbane Dick Fund, 1941. Public Domain.
 

Throwing spears by hand is so last era! Dozens gathered in Vermont for the Northeast Open Atlatl Championship in Addison, Vermont, to determine who is the best at utilizing a very ancient weapon. While everyone knows about the bow and the spear, few seem to remember the atlatl, which served as a sort of fusion of the two. Of course, that doesn’t apply to the members of Franklin Pierce University’s atlatl team, who competed at the championship to show off their deadly skills. Atlatls, also called spear throwers, are weapons made of two components. One part consists of a short board or stick with a groove carved into one end. This part of the weapon is held in the hand. The other part is the dart, which resembles a thin javelin with fletching. When the dart is thrown, the handle provides additional leverage, propelling the projectile much farther than if it had been thrown by hand. At the championship in Vermont, competitors have managed distances as far as 800 feet and more.
 
It’s impossible to say exactly how old the atlatl is, but the earliest surviving example is at least 17,000 years old. The weapon fell out of favor as bows and arrows became more popular around 3,000 years ago, though the atlatl remained in use in some places. In fact, the name for the weapon comes from the Aztecs, who were found to still be using the atlatl by the time the Spanish encountered them. While the bow and arrow had long surpassed the atlatl in popularity by then, the weapon still had its advantages. Each dart was heavier and more deadly than an arrow, and it could also be used as a harpoon with a line attached. When it comes to choosing an atlatl over a bow, don’t nock it till you’ve tried it!

[Image description: An ancient Atlatl, a metallic rod with two protrusions, one near each end.] Credit & copyright: Silver Atlatl Spear Thrower, Chimú culture, Peru. The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Bequest of Jane Costello Goldberg, from the Collection of Arnold I. Goldberg, 1986. Public Domain.
 

Make way for the conqueror! William the Conqueror landed on Pevensey, Sussex, on this day in 1066, marking the beginning of the Norman conquest of England. As the Duke of Normandy, William was a ruthless but influential figure. As the conqueror and king of England, his reign had long-lasting impacts on the culture and politics of his country, but also the entire English language.
 
William was born sometime in 1028 in Falaise, Normandy, to Robert I of Normandy and his concubine Herleva. Although William inherited the duchy (the territory and title of a duke) from his father upon the latter’s death, he struggled to maintain authority because he was only seven years old and an illegitimate son. Fortunately for William, his father had arranged for Herleva to be married to a loyal viscount, giving the child duke an important ally. Nevertheless, the duchy of Normandy was in shambles, with disloyal vassals questioning the duke’s legitimacy and staging rebellions against “William the Bastard.” As a young man, William dedicated most of his efforts to restoring his duchy, spending more time on the battlefield than administrating. These difficulties eventually turned to his advantage, as they helped him develop a talent for fighting and a formidable military force under his command. William was known as a very devout Christian, and in addition to building monasteries, he passed legislation to increase the power of the church while keeping it under his authority. Among other things, he banned simony, or the practice of selling church offices, as well as clerical marriage. He introduced these reforms to England after his conquest, which began in 1066.
 
The Norman conquest of England was a war of succession, with William fighting for a throne that had once been promised to him. William claimed that the Anglo-Saxon king, King Edward, had sworn on the relics of a saint that he would support William for the throne. The claim was further ensured by the fact that the two were blood-related. Unfortunately for William, he wasn’t the only person vying for the throne. Despite swearing an oath in 1064 to defend William’s right to succession, Harold Godwinson, the Earl of Wessex, took the throne for himself upon Edward’s death in 1066. Supposedly, Edward had stated on his deathbed, “Into Harold’s hands I commit my Kingdom,” though modern historians doubt the veracity of the claim. Regardless, Harold had the support of English nobles who felt that, as Edward’s brother-in-law and an Anglo-Saxon, he was better suited for the throne of England. With their support, Harold was crowned on the same day as Edward’s funeral.
 
Then there was the King of Norway, Harald Hardrada, who believed that he had a claim through his deceased nephew, Magnus. Magnus had once been promised the throne of England while it was under Danish rule, and Harald claimed he had inherited it from his nephew. In pursuit of the throne, Harald died in the Battle of Stamford Bridge in the September of 1066 against Harold’s forces. Harold, in turn, would die at the Battle of Hastings just a few weeks later while fighting against William. By then, William had the full support of Norman aristocrats and had around 7,000 knights and soldiers at his command. In addition, Harold had been excommunicated by the pope for violating Edward’s sacred oath. With the other claimants finally out of the way, William’s coronation took place on Christmas Day.
 
Aside from being a bloody affair full of political intrigue, the Norman conquest of England had major, lasting effects that can be felt to this day by every English speaker. After William took the throne, all the English nobles were ousted from their positions and Old English was replaced with Norman French as the language of commerce, the courts, and the ruling class. Although the common people didn’t speak French themselves, many of the words used by the upper classes found their way into common vernacular. Words like “military,” “navy,” “schedule,” and countless other words originally come from French, which is why spelling and pronunciation tend to be weakly correlated in English. Of course, English also has Germanic roots mixed with Greek and other Romance languages like Latin, Spanish, and Italian…so the Normans aren’t completely to blame for our linguistic woes.

 
[Image description: A section of the Bayeux Tapestry from the 12th century depicing William the Conqueror with his half brothers.] Credit & copyright: This work is in the public domain in its country of origin and other countries and areas where the copyright term is the author's life plus 100 years or fewer.